I have read that Harvard assesses applicants in four areas (academics, extracurriculars, athletics, and personal qualities). How important is an applicant’s “grade” in the athletics category? I only did cross country and track my freshmen year of high school. I didn’t mention this on my Common App, but my counselor told me she did in her letter. Another student from my school has also applied to Harvard, and he has done track for three years.
Not important at all if it’s not important to you.
It’s been over a week since you’ve applied REA. Seriously, to avoid that impending ulcer, stay off of this site.
** Look at the your last five threads.** Do you notice a theme?
Go chill. Play some video games. Go shopping. Have some fun. Work on your other apps if you must – but this constant review and re-review of your Harvard application makes no sense.
The planet won’t split if you don’t get into Harvard. You’re much more than a college diploma. I’ve been there, done that. Please relax if at all possible.
Many colleges require students to take physical education during their four years of college – Harvard is NOT one of them. However, I think Admissions (and the university administration) believe that healthy minds exist in healthy bodies. Which is why I think Harvard accesses each student in four categories, one of them being athletics: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/keys-to-the-kingdom/
Admissions probably accesses every student’s athletic PARTICIPATION rather than skill, as they are looking for ACTIVE students – student’s who will continue some kind of athletics on their own. Now ACTIVE means anything – it could be going to the gym twice a week, swimming laps on your own, playing kickball, bike riding, rollerblading, etc. It doesn’t mean being on a high school’s track and field team or any other sort of team. As long as an applicant has demonstrated they don’t sit on the couch and play video games all day in their spare time, then they’re fine. IMHO, very few admitted students to Harvard probably receive a 1, 2 or 3 in the athletics category.
So, relax! Go think about something else for the next 6 weeks. Most students who apply to Harvard in the SCEA round are deferred – 82% to 84% of them in fact. So, I think it’s helpful for every student who applied SCEA to believe they will be deferred. In other words, it’s time to move on and focus on your other applications and not constantly obsess about everything you coulda-woulda-shoulda done in your Common Application. As T26E4 said
“Waiting is the hardest part”
– Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers